“Now, do you have any feelings against going away your first year?” my mom asked me. “I mean, does that totally freak you out or anything?”

Pause.

“No, not really,” I said.

She smiled a little, a knowing look in her eyes. “I had a feeling you were going to say that,” she said. According to her, I had those sentiments as I went off to my first day of kindergarten.

A lot of people I know cannot express enough how much they want to get out of Fresno. Personally, I actually don’t mind Fresno that much, except for the fact that I can’t walk to the beach and my favorite bands almost never come near here. Besides those, Fresno really isn’t such a bad place.

That said, though, I can hardly wait to go off to Azusa Pacific University; the idea that I will be on my own in a foreign setting, independent and in charge of my daily life, completely thrills me.

I’ll be able to sleep in past 6:30 a.m., long-board to class, play ultimate frisbee at 10:30 at night, and I won’t have to make my bed if I choose not to — oh, wait … I already don’t do that.

Though the smog isn’t much improved because of the LA factor, the Azusa location offers more exciting opportunities than Fresno; the proximity of beaches, mountains, Six Flags parks) and sweet shopping locations (Chinatown or Old Town Pasadena, anyone?) are favorably close. This means I’ll have to buddy up with someone who actually brought a car with them.

Aside from the obvious impending joys of college life, I actually am excited for the whole education aspect. Planning to major in English and minor in art, I cannot wait to begin learning the skills I will need for my future occupation. I find the idea of being able to become successful in what most fulfills me quite compelling.

Even the classes that don’t directly apply to my concentration of study excite me. Call me crazy, but I already signed up to learn Greek and partake in a triathlon training class.

I’m not exactly sure where this love of learning came from. In my younger days, I would often be found perusing a kid’s book about nature, a mini mammal encyclopedia or even a dictionary. As one can see, this passion has not decreased at all.

And that’s another compelling aspect about entering college and independency; I can choose what I want to learn in class (for the most part), about people, and in my experiences. If I want to study human development instead of social adjustment or become friends with the art major with dreadlocks or learn how to play guitar, then so let it be done!

And, oh, did my ears hear the sweet sound of study abroad programs? Maybe a semester or summer term in Oxford, South Africa or the High Sierra Program would help sate my adventurous appetite.

So, truthfully, Mom, going away isn’t freaking me out at all — at least, not in the frightened aspect. I’m just standing in line for the roller-coaster, where the anticipation keeps building up more and more for the crazy ride I’m about to go on.